WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Closing U.S. schools to stem a possible swine flu pandemic would result in significant economic costs, the Brookings Institution says.
A study by researchers at the non-profit Washington policy organization says school closures not only affect teachers but also families of the students who have to stay home.
Howard Lempel, Ross Hammond and Joshua Epstein estimate that closing all schools for four weeks could cost the United States between $10 billion and $47 billion or between 0.1 percent to 0.3 percent of gross domestic product.
Their study says with children out of school, many parents will be forced to stay home from work.
"Compounding the problem, some parents will be health care workers," the study says, adding that their absence might reduce the capacity of the health care system when demand for service is highest.
The researchers estimate closing schools for a month could result in a 6 percent to 19 percent reduction in key health care personnel.
